As I looked at the screen filled with lab results, I realized that I didn’t have a clue what the information was telling me. I had no idea whether the Complete Blood Counts (CBC) or Electrolytes meant the fictitious patient needed an immediate trip to the Emergency Room or a high-five for being so healthy.

Giving patients access to their medical data is not a complex problem. Developing strategies for helping them make sense of their medical data is incredibly complex. Patients should absolutely have easy access to their medical data, but keep in mind that access will not automatically produce meaningful action.